Iran's Zarif, EU's Ashton Conclude Meeting in Vienna
VIENNA (Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the European Union foreign policy chief, Catherin Ashton, wrapped up their meeting in the Austrian capital of Vienna.
Zarif, who is heading the country’s nuclear team, and Ashton met on Friday afternoon to review and conclude the discussions between Iran and world powers on Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program.
The fifth round of nuclear negotiations between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) began in the Austrian capital of Vienna on June 16.
The next round of talks is set to be held on July 2 again in Vienna.
Meantime, an Iranian diplomat close to the negotiations said none of the sides is thinking about extending the agreed deadline but "everyone is seriously working for an agreement before July 20."
Iran and the six world powers inked an interim deal on Tehran’s nuclear program in Geneva last November, which came into force on January 20. Under the interim deal until July 20, the parties will draw up a comprehensive nuclear deal which will lead to a lifting of all anti- Iran sanctions which had been imposed on Tehran by US and EU as well as UN Security Council.